In a move that will definitely spark claims of nepotism, newly-minted MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek today appointed his son Tee Yong to the presidential council lineup.

According to Soi Lek, Tee Yong was absorbed into the council because the practising accountant was knowledgable in affairs concerning the economy.

NONE "The presidential council meets frequently to discuss about the government affairs, so we need to include MPs who have specialised knowledge and techniques in economy and government affairs," said Soi Lek ( right ) during a press conference at the MCA headquarters today.

He said that individuals from many fields, including those from rival camps such as Ong Ka Chuan, were appointed to the council in order to tap their various expertise.

He was quick to add that the presidential council is not the most powerful decision making body in the party, but the central committee. He said the council's main function was the discuss governmeent affairs.

New Perak chief

On his new role as the Perak MCA liaison chief, Soi Lek said he was asked by the Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir to help rejuvenate the state machinery.

"He invited me to help with some party affairs and activities to stabilise the state MCA, particularly in the Kinta Valley," he said.

Meanwhile, Soi Lek said the new party leadership stood firmly with MCA Youth deputy secretary-general Loh Chew June, who is now under fire from Perkasa.

Soi Lek said that the party leadership rejects Perkasa's mono-ethnic approach, which does not take into consideration of the multi-cultural make up of the country.

"We respect the federal constitution, but we would like to point out that there was no mention of '30 percent quotas' for any ethnic group in the country," said Soi Lek.

On Saturday, Perkasa gave MCA a 48-hour deadline for Loh to apologise for publicly calling Perkasa a racist organisation, following the organisation's maiden AGM two weeks ago.

Predictably, Loh ignored Perkasa's demand. The latter responded by claiming that Loh was "ignorant of the constitution" and vowed to deliver a copy of the federal constitution to him.